30 Pinewood Derby Car Ideas and Tips
Posted by Sarah Pryor
Racing Pinewood Derby cars has been a Boy Scout tradition since the 1950s, and now many other clubs and organizations are getting in on the action. The premise is simple: build a car out of a piece of wood, four nails and four wheels, and get it to the end of a sloping track as fast as possible. Since these cars rely solely on gravity and momentum to win, reducing friction is the name of the game. Here are 30 tips to get your car looking and racing its best on race day!
Tips to Pick Up Speed
- Inspect Your Block - Make sure your block isn't warped. Check by placing it on a flat surface and pushing down on each corner with your finger — the block should not rock. If it does, get a new kit.
- Make It Aerodynamic - To reduce air drag, cut your block so it's wedge-shaped rather than square.
- Taper the Bottom of Your Car at the Front - This will keep it from rubbing against the track at the bottom of the slope as the track becomes flat.
- Lift One of the Front Wheels, so it Doesn't Touch the Track - If your competition allows it, raising one wheel is an easy way to reduce friction. Decide which wheel to lift by sending your car down a straight line and seeing which side of the line it drifts toward. If it drifts left, raise the left front wheel. If it drifts right, raise the right front wheel.
- Check Out Your Track Beforehand - Is it steep with a very little flat area at the end, or does it slope more gently? You may want to change your car based on the track slightly.
